Why You Need to Grow Your Own Skincare Ingredients (Plus a DIY to Get You Started)

Maybe you have a green thumb. Maybe you don’t. An herb garden is an easy way to undertake a low maintenance garden, and works no matter where you live. Find out which herbs make perfect skincare ingredients and get started growing your own.
Beauty is getting in on the fresh natural ingredient movement in a big way. When you flip over your favorite nontoxic eye cream or facial cleanser, you probably notice many ingredients that can be grown right in your own garden. While you probably won’t be pressing your own essential oils, there are other ways to grow your own skincare ingredients.
An herb garden can be small or large, indoors or outdoors, and tailor made to your preferences. The true beauty is: they are readily available, super fresh, and can be personalized to your beauty needs. Here are the ones to start with if you are interested in growing your own natural skincare ingredients.
5 Herbs to Grow for Skincare Ingredients
There are several ways to utilize the benefits of homegrown herbs for skin. They can be air-dried or dried in a dehydrator and crushed into powder, then added to the products you already use or used in a DIY recipe. You can also create water or oil infusions. Add a few sprigs of an herb to boiling water and allow to steep, then cool before using on skin. Or submerge herbs in oil (jojoba works well) and let set for a week or more to macerate.
1. Mint: This zingy herb makes skin feels refreshed and gives the complexion a revitalized look. It eliminates dullness, gives a healthy looking glow, and smells great, too. Create your own Mint-Mojito Foot Scrub from Hello Glow (see recipe below).
2. Lemon Balm: Sort of like mint with a lemony vibe, this herb balances and invigorates congested and blemish-prone skin types. Add to your daily moisturizer or infuse your toner with a sprig or two.
3. Rosemary: Yes, it goes well with chicken. But this luscious herb also gives skin a balanced look and feel, banishes dryness, and creates a healthy glow. The circulation boosting properties mean it can be good for stimulating hair growth, too.
4. Sage: A mellow herb that calms irritation, relieves redness, and evens skin tone. High in antioxidants, sage is perfect for warding off premature aging.
5. Thyme: Great for treating blemishes and balancing acne prone skin, thyme evens skin tone and reduces the appearance of spots and scars.
Mint-Mojito Foot Scrub

(From “Hello Glow! 150+ Easy, Natural Beauty Recipes to Make at Home“)
Recommended for: All skin types
Frequency of use: Weekly
Storage advice: Best if used immediately; refrigerate and use within 7 days
Materials
1 lime
1 bunch fresh mint
½ cup (130 g) sea salt
½ cup (120 g) Epsom salt
2 tablespoons coconut oil
Tools
Zester
Knife
Measuring cups and spoons
Small bowl
Spoon
Tub or large bowl
Instructions
1. Wash and zest the lime. Then use a knife to cut and juice it—you should have about 2 tablespoons.
2. Chop up the fresh mint so you have 2 tablespoons. Pause to get a good whiff of that wonderful smell!
3. Combine the lime juice, zest, and mint in a small bowl. Measure and add the sea and Epsom salts.
4. If the coconut oil is solid, heat it up for a few seconds until it softens into a nice, buttery, workable texture. Add it to the bowl and stir to combine.
5. To use, sit on the edge of the tub (use a large bowl if you don’t have a tub) and thoroughly scrub your feet and calves. Let the scrub collect on the bottom of the tub as you massage the mixture over your skin.
6. When you’re done scrubbing, fill the tub or bowl with enough warm water to cover your feet. Soak for 10 to 15 minutes to pamper tired tootsies, then rinse.
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